Modulation of auditory percepts by transcutaneous electrical stimulation.

Modulation of auditory percepts by transcutaneous electrical stimulation.
Hear Res. 2017 Mar 17;:
Authors: Ueberfuhr MA, Braun A, Wiegrebe L, Grothe B, Drexl M
Abstract
Transcutaneous, electrical stimulation with electrodes placed on the mastoid processes represents a specific way to elicit vestibular reflexes in humans without active or passive subject movements, for which the term galvanic vestibular stimulation was coined. It has been suggested that galvanic vestibular stimulation mainly affects the vestibular periphery, but whether vestibular hair cells, vestibular afferents, or a combination of both are excited, is still a matter of debate. Galvanic vestibular stimulation has been in use since the late 18(th) century, but despite the long-known and well-documented effects on the vestibular system, reports of the effect of electrical stimulation on the adjacent cochlea or the ascending auditory pathway are surprisingly sparse. The present study examines the effect of transcutaneous, electrical stimulation of the human auditory periphery employing evoked and spontaneous otoacoustic emissions and several psychoacoustic measures. In particular, level growth functions of distortion product otoacoustic emissions were recorded during electrical stimulation with alternating currents (2 Hz, 1 - 4 mA in 1 mA-steps). In addition, the level and frequency of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions were followed before, during, and after electrical...

Source: Hearing Research - March 17, 2017 Category: Audiology Authors: Ueberfuhr MA, Braun A, Wiegrebe L, Grothe B, Drexl M Tags: Hear Res Source Type: research